New York state briefs

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“It’s like putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.”
— John Hoff of Penfield. about a proposal to put an office building and parking garage next to a nature preserve.

Send-off for a champion

ROCHESTER — Naim Lewis was a champion before he even left town. That was made clear by the send-off that took place before the young bowler departed Tuesday for the 12th Special Olympic World Games in Shanghai, China.

“We wanted to send him off in style, so what better way to do that than with a parade,” said Ernest Haywood, an official at Lifetime Assistance Inc., which services up to 1,800 people with developmental disabilities in Monroe County, including Lewis.

The Byron Bergen High School Marching Band and U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard headed up the procession down Paul Road to Lifetime Assistance’s headquarters in suburban Chili. Lewis, 23, waved to spectators from a 1909 Model-T car.

Lewis first headed to Albany to meet up with the 30 other Special Olympians from New York before departing for China. The long journey pales in comparison to the hurdles Lewis has overcome as an adult with developmental disabilities. He came to Lifetime Assistance in 2004 and has since moved into an assisted residence in Irondequoit, graduated from high school, secured employment at a hotel in Henrietta and also volunteers at the Carter Street Recreation Center.

Lewis said sports help him accomplish goals. “I like to get there on time,” he said of practice.

An unlikely partnership

WEBSTER — When conservationist and village resident Michael Kopicki saw bulldozers clearing trees for an apartment building complex, warning bells began to go off in his head. A year ago, Kopicki and village building inspector Will Barham had visitied the site of Scenic Village Apartments adjacent to two parks, to discuss suggestions on how to improve the project.

They ran into the developer of the project, Larry Frumusa, also a village resident. "I thought I better go face the music," said Frumusa.

Kopicki said he was about ready to give him a piece of his mind, but when Kopicki started talking about native vegetation and creating a buffer zone, Frumusa said "Why don't you help me?"

Today the 26-acre lot, which has become Scenic Village Apartments, is only a quarter of the way complete toward the 60 apartment units and 29 town homes that will occupy it, but has already gained an additional 150 trees planted, including natives such as witch hazel and white oaks. "He picks and I pay," said Frumusa.

Working together the two have created a line of trees or "buffer zone" between the border of the park and the development. In addition they have added vegetation around a pond and in courtyards.

The added landscaping plans have created a larger bill then Frumusa had anticipated. "It cost more then the typical developer would spend," said Frumusa.

Kopicki agreed, "This cost time and money," he said. "And he didn't have to do that."